Wehrmacht Infantry Divisions 1 To5 1935-1945: ST TH

Wehrmacht Infantry Divisions 1st to 5th 1935-1945
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Introduction ....................................................................................... 10
15th April 1945.................................................................................... 10
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Last Proclamation: Soldiers Of The German Eastern Front! ........ 10

Infantry................................................................................................ 11
German Infantry Divisions ............................................................ 12
1st Infantry Division ........................................................................... 14
History.............................................................................................15
Organization................................................................................... 18
Order of Battle................................................................................ 18
Service Record................................................................................ 23
Commanders .................................................................................. 24
General der Infanterie Joachim Otto August Achatius Kortzfleisch.
24
Awards and decorations ............................................................ 25
Walther Schroth ............................................................................. 26
Awards and decorations.................................................................28
Georg Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Küchler .......................................28
The First World War and interwar years .................................. 29
The Second World War: in Poland and on the Western Front . 29
The Second World War: on the Eastern Front..........................30
Later life .....................................................................................30
Awards .......................................................................................30
Generalleutnant Philipp Kleffel ......................................................... 31
Awards and decorations................................................................. 32
Generalleutnant Martin Grase ........................................................... 33
Awards and decorations ............................................................ 35
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk .............................. 35
Awards and decorations ............................................................38
Personnel ...................................................................................38
Service Record................................................................................38
2nd Infantry Division ......................................................................... 39
Commanding officers .....................................................................40
Hubert Gercke ....................................................................................40
Generalleutnant Paul Bader ............................................................... 41
General der Panzertruppe Josef Harpe.............................................. 42
Awards............................................................................................ 45
3rd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) ................................................... 45
History............................................................................................ 46
Order of Battle................................................................................ 47
3rd Infantry Division Motorized.................................................... 49
Leningrad and Moscow.................................................................. 49
Operation Typhoon ........................................................................50
Fall Blau and Stalingrad..................................................................51
Order of Battle................................................................................ 52
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Commanders .................................................................................. 55
3rd Infantry Division ................................................................. 55
3rd Infantry Division (mot.) ...................................................... 55
3rd Panzergrenadier-Division ................................................... 56
Oberst Curt Haase .............................................................................. 56
World War II .................................................................................. 56
Awards............................................................................................ 57
Generalleutnant Walter Lichel........................................................... 58
Generalleutnant Helmuth Schlömer.................................................. 59
General der Panzertruppe Fritz-Hubert Gräser................................. 62
Awards............................................................................................ 64
Wehrmachtbericht reference..................................................... 64
Generalmajor Hans Hecker................................................................ 64
Generalleutnant Hans-Günther von Rost.......................................... 67
Awards and decorations.................................................................68
Generalleutnant Walter Denkert........................................................ 69
4th Infantry Division .......................................................................... 69
Order of Battle................................................................................ 70
Erick-Oskar Hansen ........................................................................... 72
Oberst (colonel) Erich Raschick......................................................... 75
Awards............................................................................................ 76
5th Infantry Division .......................................................................... 76
Order of Battle................................................................................ 78
Commanding officers ..................................................................... 78
5. Infanterie-Division ................................................................ 78
5. leichte Infanterie-Division..................................................... 78
5. Jäger-Division........................................................................ 79
Generalmajor Eugen Hahn ................................................................ 79
Generalleutnant Karl Allmendinger...................................................80
Awards............................................................................................82
Generalleutnant Walter Jost ..............................................................83
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Fahrmbacher ............................................86
Annexes ..............................................................................................89
Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) .........................................................89
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Infantry...........................................................................................89
German Infantry Divisions ............................................................90
The German Infantry - The Soldier.................................................... 96
The Uniform................................................................................... 96
Equipment......................................................................................98
Armament .....................................................................................101
The Rifle Squad (Schützengruppe) ...............................................101
The Rifle Platoon (Schützenzug) ................................................. 103
The Rifle Company (Schützenkompanie) .................................... 105
Light Infantry Weapons ............................................................... 109
Light and Heavy Panzerfaust ........................................................118
Panzerschreck .............................................................................. 120
Schlieffen Plan 1917 ...........................................................................121
The Schlieffen Plan .......................................................................121
Modifications to the Plan, 1906 ................................................... 124
Activation and subsequent failure........................................... 125
Belgian resistance .................................................................... 125
German underestimation of the British-Belgian alliance ....... 125
The effectiveness of the British Expeditionary Force.................. 126
The speed of Russian mobilization .............................................. 126
The French railway system .......................................................... 126
Logistical shortcomings ................................................................127
Moltke's changes to the plan........................................................ 128
Decision to break off the plan ...................................................... 128
Aftermath of the plan's failure ..................................................... 129
Criticism................................................................................... 130
Auftragstaktik, or Directive Control................................................. 133
Past as Prologue ........................................................................... 134
The New Strategic Environment...................................................137
Implementing the Approach........................................................ 140
Coalition Operations .................................................................... 142
Conclusion.....................................................................................147
Opposing forces............................................................................ 156
Germany................................................................................... 156
Poland ...................................................................................... 156
German plan ............................................................................ 158
Polish defence plan .................................................................. 160
German invasion...................................................................... 162
Soviet Union invaded from the east ........................................ 164
Civilian losses............................................................................167
Aftermath ......................................................................................167
Chapter I Battle of France ................................................................ 170
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German strategy........................................................................... 170

Similarity to Schlieffen Plan ......................................................... 171
Manstein Plan ...............................................................................173
Details of the Plan.....................................................................174
Executing the Plan ....................................................................176
Summarizing the Plan ............................................................. 178
Mechelen Incident ........................................................................179
Adoption of Manstein Plan ...........................................................179
Blitzkrieg .......................................................................................181
Early actions ............................................................................ 182
Dyle Plan ...................................................................................... 182
Allied intelligence......................................................................... 184
German forces and dispositions .................................................. 185
Strength ................................................................................... 185
Army operational deployment................................................. 186
Communications...................................................................... 186
Army tactics ............................................................................. 187
Luftwaffe .................................................................................. 188
Anti-aircraft defences .............................................................. 189
Allied forces and dispositions ...................................................... 189
Strength ................................................................................... 190
Armies ...................................................................................... 190
Deployment.............................................................................. 192
Air forces .................................................................................. 193
Anti-aircraft defences .............................................................. 194
Fall Gelb ....................................................................................... 194
Northern front ......................................................................... 194
The Netherlands ...................................................................... 195
Invasion of Belgium ................................................................. 196
Battle of Hannut and Gembloux...............................................197
Central front ................................................................................. 198
Belgian and French Ardennes ................................................. 198
Battle of Sedan ......................................................................... 199
Collapse of the Meuse front ..................................................... 201
Low French morale ..................................................................204
Failed Allied counter-attacks...................................................204
German spearheads reach the Channel...................................205
Weygand Plan .............................................................................. 207
BEF and the Channel ports ..........................................................209
Halt order.................................................................................209
Battle of Calais.............................................................................. 210
Operation Dynamo........................................................................211
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Fall Rot ......................................................................................... 212

French problems...................................................................... 212
Collapse of the Weygand line .................................................. 212
Collapse of the Maginot line ........................................................ 214
The second BEF evacuation..................................................... 216
Surrender and armistice .............................................................. 216
Aftermath ..................................................................................... 216
Casualties ......................................................................................217
Axis............................................................................................217
Allied ........................................................................................ 218
The Reichsheer ................................................................................. 219
Wehrkreis ..................................................................................... 234
Campaign in Poland Operation Fall Weiss ...................................... 239
Operation Fall Gelb Campaign in France May 10 1940................... 241
Panzer break-through: France, 1940.......................................244
Campaign in the Balkans 1941 .........................................................246
Operation Barbarossa.......................................................................249
Last cauldron: Army and SS in Hungary, 1945................................ 252
Hitler’s War Directives 1939-1945 ................................................... 254
Directive No 1 ................................................................................... 254
Directive No. 1 for the Conduct of the War.................................. 254
Directive No 2 ................................................................................... 256
Directive No. 2 for the Conduct of the War ................................. 256
Directive No 3 ................................................................................... 257
Directive No. 3 for the Conduct of the War .................................258
Directive No 4...................................................................................258
Directive No. 4 for the Conduct of the War ................................. 259
Directive No 5 ...................................................................................260
Directive No 6...................................................................................262
Directive No 6 for the Conduct of the War ..................................262
Directive No 7 ................................................................................... 263
Directive No. 7 For the prosecution of the war against the Western
Enemy,.......................................................................................... 263
Directive No 8...................................................................................264
Directive No. 8 for the Conduct of the War .................................264
Directive No 9...................................................................................266
Directive No. 9 Instructions for warfare against the economy of the
enemy ...........................................................................................266
Directive No 10 .................................................................................269
Directive No 10 for 'Case Weser-exercise* ..................................269
Directive No 11...................................................................................271
Directive No 12 ................................................................................. 272
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Directive No 13 ................................................................................. 272

Directive No 14 ................................................................................. 274
Directive No 15 ................................................................................. 275
Directive No. 15 conduct of the operations of the Army:............ 275
Directive No 16 ................................................................................. 277
Directive No. 16 On preparations for a landing operation against
England ........................................................................................ 277
Directive No 17..................................................................................280
Directive No. 17 For the conduct of air and sea warfare against En-
gland.............................................................................................280
Directive No 18 ................................................................................. 281
Directive No 19 .................................................................................285
Directive No. 19 'Undertaking Attila'...........................................285
Directive No 20.................................................................................286
Directive No. 20 ' Undertaking Marita' .......................................286
Directive No 21 .................................................................................288
Directive No, 21 'Case Barbarossa'...............................................288
Directive No. 22................................................................................292
Directive No. 22 German support for battles in the Mediterranean
area ...............................................................................................292
Directive No. 23................................................................................ 293
Directive No. 23 Directions for operations against the English war
economy ....................................................................................... 293
Directive No. 24................................................................................ 295
Directive No. 24 Cooperation with Japan ................................... 295
Directive No 25 ................................................................................. 297
Directive No 26.................................................................................298
Directive No. 26 Cooperation with our allies in the Balkans ......299
Directive No 27 .................................................................................300
Directive No 28.................................................................................303
Directive No. 28 'Undertaking Mercury [Merkur]' .....................303
Directive No 29.................................................................................304
Directive No 30.................................................................................306
Directive No. 30 Middle East.......................................................306
Directive No 31 .................................................................................308
Directive No 32................................................................................. 310
Directive No. 32 Preparations for the period after 'Barbarossa' ..311
Directive No 32a ............................................................................... 314
Directive No 33 ..................................................................................317
Directive No. 33 Continuation of the war in the East...................317
Directive No 33a ............................................................................... 319
Directive No 34.................................................................................320
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Directive 34a..................................................................................... 322

Directive No 35 ................................................................................. 324
Directive No 36................................................................................. 326
Directive No 37 ................................................................................. 329
Directive No 38................................................................................. 332
Directive No 39................................................................................. 333
7th April 1945 ................................................................................... 336
15th April 1945..................................................................................338
Treaty of Versailles ........................................................................... 339
Negotiations ................................................................................. 341
French aims.................................................................................. 342
Keynes argued .............................................................................. 342
British aims .................................................................................. 343
American aims ............................................................................. 343
Impositions on Germany ............................................................. 343
Military restrictions .....................................................................344
Territorial changes .......................................................................344
In China........................................................................................346
War Guilt and Reparations .......................................................... 347
The creation of international organizations ................................348
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.................................................................348
Background ..................................................................................350
Beginning of Soviet–German secret talks ................................... 354
August negotiations ..................................................................... 355
The secret protocol....................................................................... 355
Further secret protocol modifications, ........................................ 358
Early political issues..................................................................... 359
Denial of the Secret Protocol's by the Soviet Union .................... 361
Stalin's Falsifiers of History and Axis negotiations ..................... 363
Denunciation of the pact..............................................................364
Anti-Comintern Pact ........................................................................366
Attempts to improve Anglo-German relations ............................ 367
Soviet-German agreement ...........................................................368
Iron Cross .........................................................................................368
Design...........................................................................................369
Early awards................................................................................. 370
World War II .................................................................................371
Ranks in German Army .................................................................... 373
Fahnenjunker ............................................................................... 373
Fähnrich ....................................................................................... 373
Lieutenant .................................................................................... 373
Oberleutnant ................................................................................ 373
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Hauptmann .................................................................................. 374

Major ............................................................................................ 374
Oberstleutnant ............................................................................. 375
Oberst ........................................................................................... 375
Generalmajor ............................................................................... 375
Generalleutnant ........................................................................... 376
General der Artillery .................................................................... 376
Generaloberst ............................................................................... 377
Generalfelsmarschall ................................................................... 378
In Germany .............................................................................. 378
Index ................................................................................................. 378
Bibliography .....................................................................................386
Index ................................................................................................. 387
Notes................................................................................................. 393
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Introduction
15th April 1945

The Leader's Order.
Order Of The Day. 15th April, 1945.
Last Proclamation: Soldiers Of The German Eastern Front!

For the last time our deadly enemies the Jewish Bolsheviks have
launched their massive forces to the attack. Their aim is to reduce
Germany to ruins and to exterminate our Folk. Many of you soldiers
in the east already know the fate which threatens, above all, German
women, girls, and children. While the old men and children will be
murdered, the women and girls will be reduced to barrackroom who-
res. The remainder will be marched off to Siberia.
We have foreseen this thrust, and since last January have done
everything possible to construct a strong Front. The enemy will be
greeted by massive artillery fire. Gaps in our infantry have been made
good by countless new units. Our Front is being strengthened by
emergency units, newly raised units, and by the Germanic Folk Mili-
tia. This time the Bolshevik will meet the ancient fate of Asia -- he
must and shall bleed to death before the capital of the German Reich.
Whoever fails in his duty at this moment behaves as a traitor to our
Folk. The Regiment or Division which abandons its position acts so
disgracefully that it must be ashamed before the women and children
who are withstanding the terror of bombing in our cities. Above all,
be on your guard against the few treacherous Officers and soldiers
who, in order to preserve their pitiful lives, fight against us in Russian
pay, perhaps even wearing German uniform. Anyone ordering you to
retreat will, unless you know him well personally, be immediately
arrested and, if necessary, killed on the spot, no matter what rank he
may hold. If every soldier on the Eastern Front does his duty in the
days and weeks which lie ahead, the last assault of Asia will crumple,
just as the invasion by our enemies in the west will finally fail, in spite
of everything.
Berlin remains German, Vienna will be German again, and Europe
will never be Russian.
Form yourselves into a sworn brotherhood, to defend, not the empty
conception of a Fatherland, but your homes, your wives, your chil-
dren, and, with them, our future. In these hours, the whole German
Folk looks to you, my fighters in the east, and only hopes that, thanks
to your resolution and fanaticism, thanks to your weapons, and under
your leadership, the Bolshevik assault will be choked in a bath of
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blood. At this moment, when Fate has removed from the Earth the
greatest war criminal of all time, the turning point of this war will be
decided.
Adolf Hitler.
Infantry
Infantry is the branch of an army that fights on foot. Infantrymen are
land-based soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of figh-
ting on foot to engage the enemy face-to-face and have historically
borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest
branch of combat arms, they are still the backbone of modern armies.
Infantry units have more physically demanding training than other
branches of armies, and place a greater emphasis on discipline, physi-
cal strength, fitness and spontaneous sustained aggression. The in-
fantryman himself, with or without his personal weapon, is conside-
red a weapon system.
Infantrymen are easily distinguished from soldiers trained to fight on
horseback (cavalry), in tanks, or in technical roles such as armourers
or signallers. Rudimentary infantry skills such as basic individual mo-
vement techniques, shooting positions and field craft are fundamen-
tal to the training of every soldier. Infantry can access and maneuver
in terrain inaccessible to vehicles and tanks, and employ infantry sup-
port weapons that can provide firepower in the absence of artillery.
Their combat insertion techniques include, airborne, air assault, amp-
hibious and by land.
Since the end of the Second World War, the infantry has become a
very small part of the Western world's armies. Typically between 5%
and 30% of an army's personnel are trained infantry. Despite this
number they may still represent one of the largest individual arms;
with the exception of logistics and supply. Infantry numbers are
vastly reduced from pre-WWII levels. For instance, in the United Sta-
tes Army of 2009, there were only approximately 49,000 Infantry-
men out of about 565,000 active duty enlisted personnel The Marine
Corps has another 10,000-20,000 Infantrymen. This means that the-
re are fewer than 70,000 Infantrymen in the entire US military. The
US Air Force and Navy do not have infantry assets. The Russian Navy
on the other hand employs a small number of troops with less than
2,000, trained as Naval Infantrymen. This Naval Infantry functions
similar to the US Marine Infantry which traditionally assault land ob-
jectives from water born assault platforms.
These lower infantry numbers reflect the greatly increased lethality,
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degree and type of training afforded to modern Infantry regiments.

Western armies have increasingly complex technology based wea-
pons systems which increases the technical and logistics demand on
infantrymen in Western armies.
German Infantry Divisions

The 1939 German infantry division bears an amazing similarity to the
German infantry division of 1918. The infantry battalions had shed a
rifle company and the infantry regiments had acquired an infantry
gun company. The cavalry squadron was reduced to a platoon. The
pioneers sent their mortars to the infantry battalions' heavy compa-
nies and acquired a third pioneer company. The artillery was funda-
mentally unchanged.The divisions still contained a Feldersatz (re-
placement) battalion, and the signals command had become a full
battalion organized with two full companies, one radio and one tele-
phone.The support units remained surprisingly similar as well,
though the tail became heavier in terms of transportation columns.
Germany began World War II with the infantry divisions it had
developed with the lessons ofWorldWar I. These lessons, however,
would soon be replaced by new ones, and the process of reorganizing
the infantry division to meet new conditions began afresh.
After the beginning of World War II the German line infantry divi-
sions underwent two major organizational changes, the Type 44 divi-
sion and theVolks Grenadier division. There were a number of differ-
ent types of divisions organized - Jager divisions, mountain divisions,
Sperr divisions, garrison divisions and security divisions - plus a wide
variety of training, reserve and recruit divisions.These were, however,
specialized divisions and not intended to fight in the field. Their or-
ganizations, though covered in this and successive volumes, are con-
sidered separately since they were not part of the line division.
The first major organizational change in the line divisions from the
1939 organization occurred with the introduction of the "Neues Art"
or Type 44 division. The principal changes were that in the Type 44
division the number of battalions in the infantry regiments was re-
duced from three to two and that the reconnaissance battalion was
replaced by a fusilier battalion.The second major change was the or-
ganization of theVolks Grenadier divisions in 1944. Here the princi-
pal change was the name. There were only a few structural changes,
but the types of equipment did vary.The artillery regiments added a
75mm field gun battalion, one of the infantry battalions was mounted
on bicycles, and the German equivalent of the bazooka, the Panzer-
faust or Panzerschreck, was introduced widely into the infantry or-
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ganization.
The German infantry was called up in thirty-five waves. Each wave
had a slightly different equipment allocation from the preceding
waves, though they generally followed the structures indicated below.
The largest variations occurred amongst those waves called up in the
winter of 1941/42. The losses of equipment on the Russian Front
were so heavy that the Germans were unable to re-equip the divisions
in the field and provide sufficient equipment to bring the new divi-
sions up to full theoretical organizational strength, so compromises
were made. As a result of this, the infantry support gun companies
often lacked the 150mm sIG-and were equipped solely with 75mm
lelG. Artillery regiments were organized with fewer battalions and
equipped with guns other than those indicated in the theoretical
structure.
As time progressed, the Panzerjager companies also underwent ma-
jor changes.The 37mm PAK 36 was found to be inadequate and was
soon upgraded to the 50mm PAK 38.This, in turn, was supplanted by
the 75mm PAK 40. As tank warfare became more intense, the Ger-
mans pressed into service the famous French 75mm as the 75mm
PAK 97/38 and large numbers of captured Russian 76.2mm guns as
the 76.2mm PAK 36(r) and 76.2mm PAK 39(r).
Throughout the war the infantry was heavily reliant upon horse
power. Very few of the infantry division's elements were ever mecha-
nized, though a few units did slowly accumulate more and more ve-
hicles. The Panzerjager battalions were generally the first to be fully
motorized, and on occasion they had tracked gun carriages. Several
terms appear in German organizational states that relate to this.The
first is "(motZ)", which means that the unit was fully motorized.The
second is "(tmot)", or partially motorized.The term "mixed mobility
(tmot)" appears as well, which indicates that the unit had a combina-
tion of motor vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles.
With the exception of the addition of the 75mm artillery battalions in
the Volks Grenadier divisions, the artillery regiments did not change
during the war. Each battery usually had four 105mm or 150mm ho-
witzers, though some were authorized six. Only occasionally was cap-
tured equipment pressed into use in the infantry on an "official" ba-
sis. Indications are that most of the captured heavy artillery equip-
ment was transferred to the various coastal artillery units.
In the following discussion of units, the generic term "support units"
will be used repeatedly. This should be understood to consist of the
reconnaissance, schnelle, Panzerjager, pioneer and signals battalions
as well as the commissary, medical, quartermaster and other admin-
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istrative units. These units usually had the same numerical designa-
tion. For example, the 1st Division contained the 1st Reconnaissance,
1st Panzerjager, 1st Pioneer and 1st Signals Battalions, as well as the
1st Butcher and 1st Field Bakery Companies, etc. There are excep-
tions to this numbering system, and they are noted; however, the
phrase "1st Division Support Units" will normally be used to cover
the smaller formations in the division that are not part of the infantry
or artillery regiments.
When Germany began making preparations for war she called up her
infantry in six waves. The first wave was the standing army. The re-
maining five waves were drawn from various sources, including the
Landwehr division, reserves and new drafts. The 6th Wave was inter-
esting in that its equipment was mostly of Czechoslovak origin.
1st Infantry Division

The German 1st Infantry Division, (designated 1.Infanterie-Division
in German), was one of the original infantry divisions of the Reichs-
wehr and Wehrmacht and served throughout World War II.
Lineage
Wehrgauleitung Köningsberg
Artillerieführer I
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Traditions
Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I (2.Ostpreußisches)
Nr.3 - in I./Inf.Reg.1
Infanterie-Regiment Herzog Karl Von Mecklenburg-Strelitz (6.Ost-
preußisches) Nr.43 - in 13.u.14.Komp. u. II./Inf.Reg.1
Grenadier-Regiment Kronprinz (1.Ostpreußisches) Nr.1 - in
III./Inf.Reg.1
Füsilier-Regiment Graf Roon (Ostpreußisches) Nr.33 - in
13.u.14.Komp., I. u. III./Inf.Reg.22
Infanterie-Regiment Graf Dönhoff (7.Ostpreußisches) Nr.44 - in
II./Inf.Reg.22
History
Originally formed as the beginning of Germany's first wave of rear-
mament, the division was first given the title of Artillerieführer I and
only later called Wehrgauleitung Königsberg. These names were an
effort to cover Germany's expansion of infantry divisions from seven
to twenty-one. The division's infantry regiments were built up from
the 1.(Preussisches) Infanterie-Regiment of the 1.Division of the
Reichswehr and originally consisted of recruits from East Prussia.
The unit's Prussian heritage is represented by the Hohenzollern coat
of arms that served as the divisional insignia. Upon the official revela-
tion of the Wehrmacht in October 1935, the unit received its title of
1.Infanterie-Division. In February 1936, the headquarters of the divi-
sion was moved from Insterburg to Königsberg.
With the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, the 1st In-
fantry Division advanced toward Warsaw as a component of the
XXVI Army Corps in von Küchler's 3rd Army. It engaged Polish for-
ces near the heavily-defended town of Mława (see Battle of Mława)
for several days, then crossed over the Bug and Narew Rivers. It
fought again near Węgrów and Garwolin and ended the campaign
east of Warsaw. 1
1A Leutnant platoon leader (Zugfuhrer) armed with an MP40 machine pis-

tol scans the route his platoon will advance over. Few platoons were ac-
tually led by lieutenants owing to officer shortages. Most were led by NCOs.
Summer weather made wool uniforms uncomfortable and sleeves were
rolled up, something that would have never happened in peacetime. The
Wehrmacht eagle decal was ordered removed from the helmet's left side on
28 August 1943. It was often simply left on until it wore off or was re-
painted. The tricolor Reich shield had been ordered removed on 21 March
1940 for camouflage purposes.
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Playing a minor role in the invasion of France, the division returned

to East Prussia in the autumn of 1940. With the launch of Operation
Barbarossa, the 1st Infantry Division entered the Soviet Union as part
of the 18th Army with Army Group North, advancing on Leningrad. It
remained and fought in the area of Leningrad and Lake Ladoga
through December 1943. (See Siege of Leningrad.) Transferred to the
1st Panzer Army, the division fought at Krivoy Rog and broke out of
encirclement in March 1944.
The 1st Infantry Division returned to its native East Prussia for the
last time in the summer of 1944. Except for participating in the ur-
gent and temporary link-up with the now-isolated Army Group North
in Lithuania (Operation Doppelkopf), the unit remained to defend
the easternmost German province from the advancing Red Army. Al-
ternating between 3rd Panzer and 4th Armies, the division was trap-
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ped in the Königsberg/Samland area after it was cut off from the rest
of Germany by the end of January, 1945.
At 0400 hours on February 19, 1945, elements of the 1st Infantry, led
by a captured Soviet T-34 tank, spearheaded a westward offensive
from Königsberg intended to link with General Hans Gollnick's
XXVIII Corps, which held parts of the Samland peninsula, including
the vital port of Pillau. Capturing the town of Metgethen, the unit
opened the way for the 5th Panzer Division to join with Gollnick's for-
ces near the town of Gross Heydekrug the next day. This action re-
opened the land route from Königsberg to Pillau, allowing for the eva-
cuation of civilian refugees via the port and solidifying the German
defense of the area until April.
With the capitulation of Königsberg on April 9, 1945, the surviving
elements of the division retreated to Pillau, where this East Prussian
unit clung to the last ground of its home province until surrendering
to the Soviets.
In 1934 the German armed forces were still known as the Reichswehr
and the restrictions of the treaty of Versallies were technically still in
place. These restrictions limited the number of German divisions to 7
but almost from the start in 1921 there were plans to expand that
number. Shortly after the NSDAP came to power in 1933 the number
of divisions was indeed expanded from 7 to 21. The Reichswehr divi-
sions didn't transition over during the reforming and expansion pe-
riod, they were used instead to help provide a basis for the newly for-
ming units. The commanders of the 7 divisions of the Reichswehr al-
so served as the head of a regional Wehrkreiskommando of the same
number as the division, thus serving a duel role. During the transi-
tion period the Reichswehr Wehrkreiskommandos were upgraded in-
to Korp formations and the commanders were transfered to serve as
their new commanding officers. Through this move the staff of each
of the Reichswehr divisional units was lost making it unwieldy to
transfer entire divisions into the newly forming Wehrmacht. From
here the first step in the expansion from 7 to 21 divisions was the for-
mation of 3 Wehrgauleitung in each region previously controlled by
the Reichswehr divisions,creating 21 Wehrgauleitungen (7x3=21).
Each Wehrgauleitung was named according to the city it was housed
in. The 21 Wehrgauleitungen were the true foundation for the first di-
visions of the Wehrmacht. The regimental units of the former 7 divi-
sions were shifted about and used to form the organic units of the
new divisions.
The german armed forces expanded from 7 divisions to 21 in 1934. In
an effort to hide the expansion for as long as possible, all new divi-
18/405
sions were given cover names. The cover names given to each of the
21 new divisions corresponded to the title of the commander placed
in charge of the unit in most cases. As there was an Infantry and Arti-
llery commander in each of the 7 divisions of the Reichswehr (known
as Infanteriefüher I-VII and Artilleriefüher I-VII, depending on the
number of the division in question) they took command of 14 of the
newly formed divisions (2x7=14). When the various Infantry and Ar-
tillery commanders took command, their new divisions existance was
hidden by the use his previous title as the cover name for the unit.
The remaining 7 new divisions not commanded by one of the pre-
vious Infantry or Artillery commanders were taken over by newly ap-
pointed commanders and given cover names such as Kommandant
von Ulm, or Kommandant von Regensburg.
Organization
The 1st Infantry Division was a "Wave 1" division, meaning it existed
prior to the outbreak of the war. It was equipped and organized along
standard lines for a German infantry division. Its original form in
1934 consisted of two infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, a pio-
neer battalion, and a signals unit.
The division invaded Poland with the following units under com-
mand:
1st Infantry Regiment
22nd Infantry Regiment
43rd Infantry Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
37th Artillery Regiment
31st Machine-gun Battalion
1st Anti-tank Battalion
1st Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Engineer Battalion
1st Signals Battalion
1st Medical Battalion
Order of Battle
Mobilized in August 1939 with:
I/, 2/3 3/1 st Infantry Regiment
I/, 21, 3/22nd Infantry Regiment
I/, 2/, 3/43rd Infantry Regiment
I/, 2/, 3/lst Artillery Regiment
1/3 7th Artillery Regiment
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1 st Divisional Support Units

In January 1940 the 1st Feldersatz Battalion became the 3/336th In-
fantry Regiment (161st Infantry Division). During February 1940 the
Staff/1 st Infantry Regiment and 21 43rd Infantry Regiment joined
the 504th Infantry Regiment (291st Infantry Division/8th Wave). In
addition, a signals platoon, the 1st Infantry Regiment/, the 13th
Co/22nd Infantry Regiment, the 1st Platoon and the Bicycle Squad-
ron of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion were detached and the 1st Ar-
tillery Regiment gave up the Staff and Signals Platoon/2nd Battalion
of the 2nd Battery.
On 1 April 1940 some of the supply and support troops of the division
had their numbers changed: the 618th (mot) Butcher Platoon became
the 1st (mot) Butcher Platoon, the 4/5th and l/6th Light Supply Col-
umns became the 2/ and 3/lst Light Supply Columns and the 3/, 5/
and 7/207th Supply Columns became the 4/, 5/ and 6/1 st Supply
Columns.
On 21 September 1940 the 3/lst, 3/22nd and 3/43rd Infantry Regi-
ment detached to the 121st Infantry Division (11th Wave). These units
were then rebuilt. In May 1942 the 3/1 st, 3/22nd and 2/43rd Infan-
try Regiments were disbanded, leaving the division with only six bat-
talions. On 12 November 1942 the 22nd Infantry Regiment became
the 22nd Fusilier Regiment (AA).
On 3 May 1941 the division was organized and equipped as follows:
Divisional Staff (2 LMGs)
1 st (mot) Mapping Detachment
1st Infantry Regiment
1 Regimental Staff
1 Regimental Band
1 Signals Platoon
1 Pioneer Platoon (3 LMGs)
1 Cavalry Reconnaissance Platoon 3 Infantry Battalions
3 Infantry Companies (12 LMGs and 2 50mm mortars ea)
1 Machine Gun Company (12 HMGs and 6 80mm mortars)
1 Infantry Gun Company (2 150mm sIG and 6 75mm leIG)
1 (mot) Panzerjager Company (2 50mm PAK 38, 9
37mm PAK 36 and 4 LMGs)
22nd Infantry Regiment same as 1 st Infantry Regiment
43rd Infantry Regiment: same as 1 st Infantry Regiment
1 (tmot) Signals Platoon
1 Mounted Reconnaissance Squadron (9 LMGs and 2 HMGs)
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1 Bicycle Squadron (9 LMGs, 2 HMGs and 3 50mm mortars)

1 (mot) Heavy Reconnaissance Company
1 Infantry Gun Section (2 75mm leIGs)
1 Armored Car Section (2 armored cars)
1 Panzerjager Section (3 37mm PAK 36 and 1 LMG)
1st Panzerjager Battalion
3 (mot) Panzerjager Companies (12 37mm PAK 36 and 6 LMGs ea)
1 Signals Platoon
1 Weather Detachment
1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, each with:
1 Signals Platoon
1 Calibration Detachment
3 Batteries (4 105mm leFH and 2 LMGs ea)
4th Battalion
1 Signals Platoon
1 Calibration Detachment
3 Batteries (3 150mm sFH and 2 LMGs ea)
1st Feldersatz Battalion (3 cos)
1st Pioneer Battalion
1 Battalion Staff
1 Battalion Band
2 Pioneer Companies (9 LMGs ea)
1 Pioneer Company (9 LMGs)
1 Light Pioneer Supply Column
1 (tmot) Telephone Company
1 (mot) Radio Company
1 (tmot) Signals Supply Column
1st Divisional Supply Troops
1/, 2/, 3/1 st (mot) Light Supply Columns
4/, 5/, 6/1 st (horse-drawn) Supply Columns
7/, 8/, 9/1 st Light Supply Columns
10/1st (mot) Fuel Column
1st Supply Company (6 LMGs)
1st (mot) Maintenance Company
1st (mot) Bakery Company
1st (mot) Butcher Company
1 st Divisional Administration
1/1 st Medical Company
2/1 st (mot) Medical Company
1st Ambulance Company
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1st Veterinary Troop

1st (mot) Military Police Detachment
1st (mot) Field Post Office
In 1942-43 the division had the 7th and 8th Sound Ranging Troops
assigned.The Panzerjager battalion contained a Sturmgeschutz and a
20mm Flak company. All of the pioneer companies were horse-
drawn and the Feldersatz battalion had three companies. In Septem-
ber 1943 the division was organized and equipped as follows:
1 st Infantry Division
Divisional Staff (2 LMGs)
1st (mot) Mapping Detachment
1st Grenadier Regiment
1 Regimental Staff 1 Regimental Band
1 Regimental Staff Company
1 Signals Platoon
1 Pioneer Platoon (3 LMGs)
1 Cavalry Reconnaissance Platoon
2 Infantry Battalions, each with
3 Grenadier Companies (12 LMGs, 3 anti-tank rifles and 2 80mm
mortars ea)
1 Machine Gun Company (12 HMGs and 4 120mm mortars)
Infantry Gun Company (2 150mm sIG and 4 75mm leIG)
(tmot) Panzerjager Company (organization not indicated, but
probably 6 LMGs and a mix of 75mm PAK 40, 50mm PAK 38 and
37mm PAK 36)
22nd Fusilier Regiment
same as 1st Grenadier Regiment
43rd Grenadier Regiment
same as 1 st Grenadier Regiment
2 Bicycle Squadron (2 80mm mortars, 3 light antitank rifles 2 HMGs
and 12 LMGs)
1 (mot) Reconnaissance Squadron (6 120mm mortars, 3 LMGs, 3
50mm PAK 38 and 2 75mm leIG)
1st Panzerjager Battalion
2 (motZ) Panzerjager Companies (organization not indicated, but
probably 9 LMGs and a mix of 75mm PAK 40, 50mm PAK and 37mm
PAK 36 ea)
1 Sturmgeschutz Battery (18 LMGs and 14 StuG)
1 Self-Propelled Flak Company (12 20mm and 2 LMGs)
1 Regimental Staff, Staff Battery and Regimental Band
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1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions, each with 1 Battalion Staff and Staff
Battery 3 Batteries (4 105mm leFH and 2 LMGs ea)
4th Battalion
1 Battalion Staff and Staff Battery
3 Batteries (3 150mm sFH and 2 LMGs ea)
1st Pioneer Battalion
1 Battalion Staff (2 LMGs)
3 Pioneer Companies (2 HMGs, 9 LMGs, 3 light antitank rifles and 2
80mm mortars ea)
1 Light Pioneer Supply Column (2 LMGs)
1 (tmot) Telephone Company (6 LMGs)
1 (mot) Radio Company (4 LMGs)
1 (tmot) Signals Supply Column (1 LMG)
1st Supply Troops
1 Supply Troops Staff (2 LMGs)
1st (mot) 90-ton Transportation Company (3 LMGs)
1/, 5/, 6/1 st Light Supply Columns (4 LMGs ea)
7/, 8/91st Light Supply Columns 2
1st (tmot) Supply Company (6 LMGs)
1st (mot) Maintenance Company
1/1 st Medical Company (2 LMGs)
2/1-st (mot) Medical Company (2 LMGs)
1st Ambulance Company
1 st (mot) Bakery Company
1st (mot) Butcher Company
1st (mot) Administration Platoon
1st Veterinary Troop (1 LMG)
1st (mot) Military Police Detachment (1 LMG)
1st (mot) Field Post Office (1 LMG)
On 8/11/44 the Panzerjager battalion was directed to contain a
(motZ) heavy Panzerjager company with twelve guns, a Sturmge-
schutz detachment and a (motZ) Flak with twelve 20mm Flak guns.
The grenadier regiments were ordered to form three battalions each.
The reconnaissance battalion was rebuilt using the Lehr Reconnais-
2 These listings were prepared using a series of charts employing a special-

ized hieroglyphic system for quick identification of the types of units as-
signed to a division. However, in the supply troops the symbology does not
always distinguish between some of the supply column units. The "Light Ve-
hicle Columns" cannot be distinguished from the "Supply Train" units, so
they have all been referred to as "Light Supply Columns". The only distinc-
tion that can be made is when these units transition to the "heavy" variant.
23/405
sance Battalion. In November 1944 the division's regiments were

reorganized and renamed as follows:
1/, 2/, 3/lst Grenadier Regiment
1/, 2/, 3/22nd Fusilier Regiment
1/, 2/, 3/43rd Grenadier Regiment
Division Fusilier Battalion (AA)
1/, 2/, 3/lst Artillery Regiment
1/37th Artillery Regiment
Lehr Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Divisional Support Units
Service Record
Polish Campaign as part of Army Group North:
Sept, 1939: Fought in Poland under 3.Armee of German Army Group
North
French Campaign as part of Army Group B:
May, 1940: Reserve division of 6.Armee of German Army Group B in
Belgium
Jun, 1940: Fought in France under I.Armeekorps of 4.Armee
Jul-Aug, 1940: Part of I.Armeekorps of 7.Armee along the Atlantic
coast
Sept, 1940: Transferred to East Prussia under 18.Armee with Army
Group B
Russian Campaign as part of Army Group North:
Jun, 1941: Invaded Russia with 18.Armee under Army Group North
Jul, 1941: Transferred to XXVI.Armeekorps under 18.Armee
Aug, 1941: Transferred to XXXXI.Armeekorps of 4.Panzergruppe
Sept, 1941: Transferred to XXXVIII.Armeekorps of 18.Armee near
Peterhof
Nov, 1941: Reserve division of 18.Armee near Leningrad
Dec, 1941: Joined XXVI.Armeekorps near Leningrad
May, 1942: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps near Volkhov
Jun, 1942: Rejoined I.Armeekorps near Volkhov
Jan, 1943: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps near Ladoga
Feb, 1943: Joined LIV.Armeekorps near Ladoga
Apr, 1943: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps near Ladoga
Sept, 1943: Rejoined XXVIII.Armeekorps near Tigoda
Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group South:
Jan, 1944: Transferred to reserves of 1.Panzer-Armee under Army
Group South at Winnizia
Feb, 1944: Joined XXXXVI.Armeekorps in the Hube pocket
Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group North Ukraine:
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Apr, 1944: Joined III.Armeekorps under Army Group North Ukraine

May, 1944: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps under 1.Panzer-Armee at
Stanislau
Jul, 1944: Joined LIX.Armeekorps at Brody
Defense of the Reich:
Aug, 1944: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps under 3.Panzer-Armee of
Army Group Centre at Schlossberg
Feb, 1945: Rejoined XXXXI.Armeekorps under 4.Armee at Königs-
berg
Mar, 1945: Reserve division of Armee Samland at Samland
Apr, 1945: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps under Armee Ostpreussen at
Pillau
Commanders
The following officers commanded the 1st Infantry Division:
Oct 1, 1934 to Apr 1, 1935: General Major Georg von Küchler
Apr 1, 1935 to Jan 1, 1938: General Lt. Walther Schroth
Jan 1, 1938 to Apr 14, 1940: General Lt. Joachim von Kortzfleisch
Apr 14, 1940 to Jul 12, 1941: General Lt. Philipp Kleffel
Jul 12, 1941 to Sept 4, 1941: General Major Dr. Friedrich Altrichter
Sept 4, 1941 to Jan 16, 1942: General Lt. Philipp Kleffel
Jan 16, 1942 to Jun 30, 1943: General Lt. Martin Grase
Jul 1, 1943 to May 10, 1944: General Lt. Ernst-Anton von Krosigk
May 10, 1944 to Jun 8, 1944: Oberst Hans-Joachim Baurmeister
Jun 8, 1944 to Sept 30, 1944: General Lt. Ernst-Anton von Krosigk
Oct 1, 1944 to Feb 28, 1945: General Lt. Hans Schittnig
Feb 28, 1945 to Apr 26, 1945: General Lt. Henning von Thadden
General der Infanterie Joachim Otto August Achatius

Kortzfleisch
Dates: 3. January 1890 in Braunschweig; † 20. April 1945 bei Wulwe-
sort, Sauerland
From Kortzfleisch participated as an officer in the First World War. It
was after the war in which - taken Reichswehr and there promoted on
1 January 1928. Major - due to the Treaty of Versailles greatly redu-
ced. From 1933 employed as commander of Opole, he took over in
1935 as colonel in command of the Infantry Regiment 3 in German-
Eylau. After his promotion to major general in 1937, he was employed
for a few months as Landwehr commander in Olsztyn before in Fe-
bruary 1938 in the wake of the Blomberg-Fritsch affair appointed
commander of the 1st Infantry Division ascent. These he led in the
fall of 1939 during the Polish campaign, where she was used as part
25/405
of the 3rd Army.

In April 1940 he received, meanwhile promoted to lieutenant general,
the command of the XI. Army Corps. For his leadership of the Corps
in the western campaign, he received in August was promoted to ge-
neral of infantry and in September the Knight's Cross of the Iron
Cross. In 1941 he was employed with his corps in the Balkan cam-
paign and in the Russian campaign in the area of Army Group South.
After the summer of 1942 temporarily with the leadership of
XXXXIII. Army Corps was instructed to put him up in early 1943 in
the leader Reserve.
In March 1943 Kortzfleisch was then appointed commander of the
Military District III in Berlin. As such, he came directly to the events
of 20 July 1944 into contact. Through its pro-regime stance he contri-
buted decisively to the failure of the resistance by not signed the
Valkyrie orders for the military district, despite massive pressure
from the conspirators, which is why the Linz Lt. Col. i. G. Robert Ber-
nardis had to take over a part of this task and hanged for it was.
It is noteworthy that Kortzfleisch was a brother-in-laws of Stauffen-
berg's cousin Olga von Uexküll (married to Fredy von Saucken). At
their wedding on October 28, 1943, met (on a photo recorded) no less
than five resistance fighters of July 20, that Claus von Stauffenberg
and Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, Nikolaus Graf von Uex-
küll-Gyllenband, Peter Yorck von Wartenburg and Caesar von Hofa-
cker. Also Joachim von Kortzfleisch and his wife can be seen in the
photo.
Kortzfleisch was on March 2, 1945. Commander of the Rhine brid-
geheads of Army Group B under Field Marshal Walter Model and ca-
me with this in the course of military operations in the Ruhr pocket
so-called. On 20 April 1945 he undertook with a handful of soldiers to
attempt to strike through the enemy lines. The squad was discovered
and surrounded by a US patrol near Schmallenberg-Wulwesort.
Kortzfleisch came the invitation to surrender not after, but tore his
arm in the Hitler salute high and was then killed by a shot in the
chest.
Awards and decorations

Iron Cross (1914)
2nd Class
1st Class
Wound Badge (1914)
in Black
26/405
in Silver
Cross of Honor
Memel Medal
Iron Cross (1939)
2nd Class
1st Class
War Merit Cross with Swords
2nd Class
1st Class
Order of Michael the Brave
3rd Class (19 September 1941)
German Cross in Silver (30 December 1943)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 September 1940 as General der
Infanterie and commander of XI. Armeekorps
Walther Schroth
Dates: * 3. June 1882, Glumbowitz (Kreis Wohlau) - † 6. October
1944, Wiesbaden oder Bad Nauheim (Unfall)
Walther Schroth became efective on 27 February 1902 as an officer
cadet in the Royal Prussian Army. The son of a domain Council dis-
cussions led to 1. Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment "Graf Kirchbach"
no. 46. In this he was promoted on 23 November 1902 Ensign. After
attending the military school he was promoted on 18 August 1903 in
his regiment to lieutenant. The patent was thereby dated August 19,
1902. As such, he was then "Graf Kirchbach" no. 46 used as a com-
pany officer in the 1st Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment. On June 23,
1906 he married Käthe Hedemann. This marriage sprang a son and
two daughters. On April 1, 1908 he was transferred as an aide to the
district command Hirschberg. As of November 1, 1908 "Graf Kirch-
bach" no. 46, he was then employed as adjutant of the battalion from
I. 1. Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment.
As such, he was promoted on 18 August 1911. Lieutenant. On October
1, 1912, he was then ordered to report to military academy. As a lieu-
tenant, he moved his 1st Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment "Graf
Kirchbach" no. 46 from the fronts of World War 1. He was initially
employed as a company commander. On 8 November 1914 he was
promoted as such, to captain. On 18 February 1915, he was then
transferred to the General Staff. He was then successively applied to
the stages inspection C the V. Army Corps. After that he came as 1st
General Staff Officer (Ia) in succession in the general staffs of the 4th
Infantry Division and the 34th Infantry Division. On May 22, 1918,
he was then transferred to the General Staff as Ia the 30th Infantry
27/405
Division. Then he came even to the General Staff of the AOK 2 before
it was last used as Ia in the General Staff of the 80th Reserve Divi-
sion. During World War I he next two Iron Crosses additional awards
were presented. After the war it was used the first time the border
guards during II. And V. Army Corps.
On 1 October 1919, he was then taken over as a captain in the Impe-
rial Army. He was transferred on that date to the General Staff of the
Reichswehr Group Command 3. When 200,000 man-transition army
in the spring of 1920 he was transferred as a general staff officer to
commander of the infantry of the army brigade 9. In the formation of
the 100,000 man-army of the army he came as a staff officer to the
staff of the 2nd Division of the Reichswehr to Szczecin. On 1 October
1921 he was then employed as a staff officer at the Artillery Leader II
in Szczecin. He was later transferred to the 6th Infantry Regiment to
Flensburg. There he was promoted as Chief of the 10th Company on
April 1, 1923, Major. On 1 October 1925, he was then transferred to
the Defense Ministry in Berlin. He was employed in the coming years
in the Army Training Department (T 4). There he was promoted on 1
February 1929 Lieutenant Colonel. As such, he was appointed com-
mander of the I. (Hanseatic) battalion from the 16th Infantry Regi-
ment in Bremen on March 1, 1929. On April 1, 1931, he was then
transferred to the infantry school in Dresden. There he was appoin-
ted Head of the case I. course. On 1 October 1931 he was promoted to
colonel. As such, he was then appointed Head of the II. Course at the
Infantry School in Dresden. On 1 October 1933 he was appointed
commander of the Infantry School in Dresden. As such, he was pro-
moted on August 1, 1934 Major General. Even with the expansion of
the Reichswehr into the Wehrmacht on 1 October 1934, he remained
commander of the Infantry School.
On 1 April 1935 he was appointed artillery leader I in Königsberg. He
was in the unmasking of the associations on 15 October 1935 appoin-
ted automatically to the commander of the 1st Infantry Division. As
such, he was promoted on April 1, 1936 Lieutenant General. Even
with his promotion to general of the infantry he was commander of
the 1st Infantry Division in Königsberg. In the course of the Blom-
berg-Fritsch affair he gave beginning in February 1938 from his com-
mand and became the commanding general of the General Command
XII. Army Corps appointed in Wiesbaden. He was up for mobilization
also commander of the military district XII. At the beginning of the
2nd World War he moved with his corps positions in the west. Before
the western campaign, he was on vacation and was represented by
General Gotthard Heinrici. After the start of the western campaign,
28/405
he took over the corps in the Battle of France. Here both clasps he
was awarded his Iron Crosses. He then led his corps headquarters at
the beginning of the Eastern campaign in the attack on central Rus-
sia. On July 9, 1941 him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was
awarded. In early 1942, he handed over his command and was trans-
ferred to the Reserve leaders.
On April 30, 1942, he was appointed Commanding General by the
Deputy General Command IV. Army Corps in Dresden. He was ap-
pointed at the same time the commander of the Military District IV.
On March 1, 1943, he handed over his command and was transferred
again in the leaders Reserve. On 1 May 1943 he was the Commanding
General of the Deputy General Command XII. Army Corps appointed
in Wiesbaden. He was simultaneously reappointed commander of the
military district XII. In this position he was parallel in August 1944
also a member of the main courtyard, which considered the involve-
ment of officers in the attack on Hitler and suspects handed over to
the People's Court for trial. This courtyard consisted mainly next to
him of the chairman Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt, General
Heinz Guderian and the Lieutenant-General Karl-Wilhelm Specht as
active members. Representatives were General of Infantry and Lieu-
tenant General Karl blackflies Heinrich Kirchheim. On October 6,
1944 he was killed in a traffic accident. Where exactly is a bit unclear.

Iron Cross (1914)
2nd Class
1st Class
Cross of Honor
Sudetenland Medal
Iron Cross (1939)
2nd Class
1st Class
Infantry Assault Badge
Eastern Front Medal
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 July 1941 as General der Infan-
terie and commander of XII. Armeekorps
Georg Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Küchler

Dates: 30 May 1881 – 25 May 1968
Georg von Küchler was born in Philippsruhe Castle in Hanau, Hesse-
Nassau, on 30 May 1881. Little is known about Küchler’s early life
29/405
and childhood. After attending cadet school, he entered the Imperial

Army in 1900 and served in the 25th Field Artillery Regiment. After
being promoted to First Lieutenant, he spent three years at the Prus-
sian Military Academy (from 1910 to 1913), before joining the General
Staff in Berlin.
The First World War and interwar years

During the First World War he commanded an artillery battery on
the Western Front and took part in the major offensives at the Som-
me and Verdun. In 1916 he became staff officer of the 206th Infantry
Division. In 1919 Küchler joined the Freikorps and fought the Red
Army in Poland. After returning to Germany he joined the staff of the
Jüterbog Artillery School. Promoted to Colonel, Küchler became
Deputy Commander of the 1st Infantry Division in East Prussia in
1932. Küchler succeeded Walther von Brauchitsch as commander of
Wehrkreis I in 1937. The following year he supported Adolf Hitler in
his removal of Werner von Blomberg and Werner von Fritsch from
power. In March 1939 he cooperated with Heinrich Himmler in the
successful occupation of the Lithuanian port of Memel.
The Second World War: in Poland and on the Western

Front
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Küchler was given com-
mand of the 3rd Army. During the invasion of Poland Küchler’s
troops captured Danzig. Although a committed supporter of the Nazi
Party, Küchler upset the Schutzstaffel (SS) by punishing soldiers who
committed atrocities against civilians. In 1940 he became far more
supportive of Nazi racial policy and ordered on 22 February stop to
any criticism of "ethnic struggle being carried out in the General Go-
vernment, for instance the of the Polish minorities, of the Jews and of
the Church matters". His order explained that the "Final ethnic solu-
tion" required unique and harsh measures.
In the Western Offensive he fought under Generalfeldmarschall Fe-
dor von Bock and commanded the Eighteenth Army, which invaded
the Netherlands. In the invasion of neutral Netherlands, he was able
to defeat the Dutch army at Moerdijk, Rotterdam, and the Hague. Af-
terwards Küchler’s forces moved into Belgium and occupied Antwerp
on 18 May 1940. Then he moved into France, attempting to cut off
the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from the English Channel at
Dunkirk, which ultimately ended in failure because of the French
army's last stand. The 18th Army ended this phase of the war at Pas
de Calais encircling Dunkirk. Küchler’s role in this campaign earned
30/405
him the rank of colonel-general.

After meeting Hitler in March 1941 to plan for Operation Barbarossa,
Küchler told his divisional commanders on April 25, 1941:
"We are separated from Russia, ideologically and racially, by a deep
abyss. Russia is, if only by the mass of her territory, an Asian sta-
te...The Führer does not wish to palm off responsibility for Ger-
many's existence on to a later generation; he has decided to force the
dispute with Russia before the year is out. If Germany wishes to live
in peace for generations, safe from a threatening danger in the East,
this cannot be a case of pushing Russia back a little-or even hundreds
of kilometers-but the aim must be to annihilate European Russia, to
dissolve the Russian state in Europe"
Küchler went on to call Red Army commissars "criminals" who
should all be shot.
The Second World War: on the Eastern Front

On 17 January 1942, Küchler became commander of Army Group
North after Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb was relieved of
his command. Küchler, unlike his predecessor Leeb, was seen as poli-
tically compliant and was liked by Adolf Hitler, who hoped that von
Küchler would succeed where he believed von Leeb had failed.
Küchler commanded Army Group North from December 1941
through January 1944 but was unable to achieve any victory at Lenin-
grad. He maintained the siege of Leningrad, launching massive bom-
bardments in an attempt to intimidate the Soviet Red Army into su-
rrender. On 30 June 1942 Hitler promoted Küchler to field marshal
(Generalfeldmarschall). In January 1944 Soviet troops were able to
break the blockade of Leningrad, and Küchler was sacked when he
demanded the withdrawal to the Luga River, which was vital to the
survival of Army Group North.
Later life
While in retirement Küchler was approached by Carl Goerdeler who
tried to persuade him to join the July Plot. Although sympathetic to
the group's objectives, he refused to participate in the attempt to as-
sassinate Hitler. At the end of World War II, Küchler was arrested by
American occupation authorities and tried by a military court in 1948
in the High Command Trial. On 27 October 1948 he was sentenced to
twenty years' imprisonment for his treatment of partisans in the So-
viet Union but only served eight years before he was released in 1953
due to illness and old age. He died in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on 25
May 1968.
31/405
Awards
Iron Cross (1914)
2nd Class (20 November 1914)
1st Class (8 January 1915)
Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
2nd Class (11 September 1939)
1st Class (22 September 1939)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (21 October 1941 and 12
August 1943)
Generalleutnant Philipp Kleffel

Dates: * 9. December 1887, Birkenfelde in Posen - † 10. October 1964,
Coburg
Philipp Kleffel occurred on 25 November 1905 as an officer cadet in
the Imperial Army. He arrived here in the 1st Pomeranian Lancers
"Schmidt" no. 4 in Torun. On 18 May 1907 he was promoted to lieute-
nant in this. The patent was thereby dated April 14, 1907. Even before
World War 1, he still belonged to the 1st Pomeranian Lancers
"Schmidt" # 4. From September 1914 he was employed as a regimen-
tal adjutant. On 24 December 1914, the transport followed to first
lieutenant and on 3 April 1916, the use as an aide at the 41st Cavalry
Brigade. On 5 October 1916 he was promoted to captain. As such Klef-
fel was transferred in April 1917 to the General Staff of the inspection
stages V and in August 1917 the General Staff of the 19th Infantry Di-
vision. On 28 June 1918 the assignment was followed in the General
Staff of the XLI. Reserve Corps. During World War I he next two Iron
Crosses additional awards were presented. After the war he was ap-
pointed on February 22, 1919 Chief of the 1st volunteer squadron
Thorn. On 11 July 1919 he was transferred to the General Staff of the
Army High Command Border Patrol North and on February 9, 1920
he became the adjutant of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. After six months,
he was transferred to the Defense Ministry in Berlin. He was emplo-
yed as a squadron leader in mounted command. In the formation of
the 100,000 man-army of the Reichswehr was relocated Reiter Regi-
ment in the 1st Preuss.). From this it was further ordered to the Mi-
nistry of Defense.
On 1 October 1921, he was then transferred to the staff of 10 (Prus-
sian) Reiter-Regiment after Züllichau. On 1 May 1922 he was appoin-
ted chief of the 2nd Squadron in Reiter Regiment 4 in Perleberg for
the coming years. 1924/25 he was transferred to the General Staff of
the Group Command 1 to Berlin. On 1 October 1926 he was transfe-
32/405
rred to the Defense Ministry in Berlin. He was then in the coming

years as the 1st General Staff Officer (Ia) (in 3) used in the inspection
staff of the cavalry. There he was promoted on 1 October 1929 Major.
In the spring of 1931 and 1932 he was then employed as Ia in the bar
from the infantry leader III in Potsdam. Later he was employed as Ia
in the bar of the 2nd Cavalry Division. On 1 December 1933 he was
promoted to lieutenant colonel. On 1 October 1935 he was promoted
to colonel. On April 1, 1936 Colonel Kleffel received his first com-
mand of a regiment, he was appointed commander of the Reiter-Regi-
ment 14 in Ludwigslust.
On 15 February 1938 he was appointed the Higher cavalry officer 4 in
Hannover. As such, he was promoted on 1 June 1939, Major General.
In the mobilization of the 2nd World War in the summer of 1939 he
was on 26 August 1939, Chief of Staff of the Deputy XI. Army Corps
and thus the commander of the Military District XI appointed in
Hannover. On April 15, 1940 he was appointed commander of the 1st
Infantry Division, which he led with an interruption due to illness in
July and August 1941 to 16 January 1942. During this period he was
appointed on June 1, 1941 Lieutenant General. Following the com-
mand at the 1st Infantry Division, he was entrusted with the leaders-
hip of L. army corps on January 19, 1942. On February 17, 1942 him
the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded. On March 1, 1942
followed his promotion to general of cavalry. On March 3, 1942, he
handed over his command and was it then appointed Commanding
General of the First Army Corps.
On May 10, 1943 German Cross was awarded to him in Gold for its
previous activities. On September 17, 1943, he was then transferred
to the Leader reserve of OKH. On 15 January 1944 he took over in re-
presentation as Commanding General, the Deputy General Command
IX. Army Corps in Kassel, which he was also the commander of the
military district IX. Subsequently, he was mid April 1944 restored to
the leader of the OKH Reserve. On 16 April 1944 he was appointed
the commander of the Special Staff OKH I. On 20 October 1944 he
took over the army representative department Grasser. On 29 Octo-
ber 1944 he was appointed commander of the Army Division Kleffel.
On 21 November 1944 he was appointed Commanding General of the
XVI. Army Corps appointed in Holland. On 16 December 1944 he was
appointed Commanding General of the XXX. Army Corps z.b.V. ap-
pointed and on March 20, 1945 at the same time deputy leader of the
25th Army. When the war ended he fell into British captivity from
which he was released on October 20, 1947.
33/405

Iron Cross (1914)
2nd Class
1st Class
Cross of Honor
Iron Cross (1939)
2nd Class
1st Class
Eastern Front Medal
Order of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class with Swords (29 March 1943)
German Cross in Gold (10 May 1943)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 February 1942 as Generalleut-
nant and commander of 1. Infanterie-Division
Generalleutnant Martin Grase

Dates: * 3. May 1891, Schlochau, Westpreußen- † 4. August 1963,
Freiburg
Martin Grase joined after his cadet training on 24 March 1909 with
the character as an ensign in the Imperial Army. He came here for
the 3rd East Prussian Grenadier Regiment "King Frederick the Great"
no. 4. After attending the War School Anklam he was promoted on
20 August 1910. Lieutenant. On 1 October 1913, he was assigned to
the MG-company of his regiment. When war broke lieutenant pla-
toon leader was grass in the MG-company and on December 1, 1914
the company commander MG Company of 3 East Prussian Grenadier
Regiment "King Frederick the Great" no. 4. After being wounded on
March 29, 1915 was on the grass June 4, 1915 leaders of the Fortress
Gun Units 19 and on August 20, 1915 Leader of the MG-Company of
Infantry Regiment 374. After promotion to lieutenant on 27 January
1916 he was on September 17, 1916 MG Officer at Staff of Infantry Re-
giment 374. On 30 January 1917 the course Sturm Battalion 5 com-
manding the 5th Army, he was on 3 February 1918 Staff of the 16th
Landwehr Division commanded, where on April 1 it to 1 . orderly offi-
cer was appointed. At the same time he was on July 1, 1918 battery-
leader in the Field Artillery Regiment. 1.
On 11 October 1918 appointed adjutant in the 16th Landwehr Divi-
sion. In World War I it both Iron Crosses were awarded. But he was
set back on 18 December 1918 in the Grenadier Regiment 4 already
on January 13, 1919 orderly officer with the General Command of the
First Army Corps. On June 1, 1919, the appointment as company
commander took place when I volunteer battalion of the Grenadier
Regiment 4. Then he was transferred to the imperial army. On Octo-
34/405
ber 22, 1919 he was appointed Adjutant of Infantry Leader I. When

transition army on 16 May 1920, the infantry I was appointed opera-
tions officer on the staff of the commander. In the formation of the
100,000 man-army of the army, he was appointed Infantry Regiment
in Olsztyn to aide the training battalion of 2 (Preuss.)
On October 1, 1920. On May 2, 1922 Martin grass was promoted to
captain. The rank seniority was thereby set to the April 1, 1922. As
such, he was appointed Infantry Regiment in Olsztyn chief of the 15th
Company of the 2nd (Preuss.) On January 25, 1923. After a Minen-
werfer course in Minenwerfer Company of the 2nd (Preuss.) Infantry
Regiment, he was on November 1, 1924 for the next several years as
head of the company in Olsztyn. On March 30, 1925, he completed a
further five-week Minenwerfer course, this time in Jüterbog. On Ja-
nuary 1, 1929, he was transferred to the headquarters of the 3rd Divi-
sion of the army to Berlin. On April 1, 1929, he was then transferred
to the 3rd Squadron of 3 (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment to Stendal. In the
spring of 1930 he was transferred again to the staff of the 3rd Divi-
sion of the Reichswehr. On April 1, 1932, he was then transferred to
the staff of the headquarters Berlin. There he was promoted on 1 Ja-
nuary 1933. Major. On 1 October 1933 he was transferred to Wehr-
gauleitung Berlin.
On 1 October 1934 he was again transferred to the headquarters Ber-
lin. On 1 July 1935 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In unmas-
king the associations after the enlargement of the army, he was on 15
October 1935, Commander of the III. (Hunter) Battalion of Infantry
Regiment 30 appointed. On October 6, 1936, he handed over his com-
mand. For this took place that day was appointed adjutant at the Ge-
neral Command 1. I. Army Corps in Königsberg. On 1 February 1938
he was promoted to colonel. On 22 August 1939 he was appointed ad-
jutant at AOK 3. With the 3rd Army, he took part in the Polish cam-
paign then. The clasp, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class. On 3
October 1939 he was appointed adjutant to the commander of the
Border Guard section Command North. On October 22, 1939, he ca-
me as an aide to AOK 16. On 1 March 1940 he was appointed com-
mander of Infantry Regiment 1. He led the regiment then first in the
western campaign into action. The clasp, he was awarded the Iron
Cross 1st class. For the beginning of summer 1941, he then led the re-
giment in the Eastern campaign in the attack on northern Russia.
On 1 October 1941 he was promoted to major general. On 18 October
1941 Grase was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On Ja-
nuary 13, 1942, he gave his command of the Infantry Regiment 1 and
was transferred to the Leader reserve. He was appointed on January
35/405
16, 1942 appointed commander of the 1st Infantry Division. On Ja-

nuary 1, 1943 promoted to lieutenant general took place. On May 23,
1943 he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron
Cross. On 1 July 1943, he handed over his command of the 1st In-
fantry Division and was transferred again in the leaders Reserve. On
15 August 1943 he was entrusted with the leadership of the First
Army Corps. On November 1, 1943 he was appointed to his promo-
tion to general of the infantry to Commanding General of the First
Army Corps.
On January 1, 1944, he handed over his command and was for the
commanding general of the XXVI. Army Corps appointed. Already in
mid-February 1944, he resigned his command and was restored to
the leader Reserve. Dated 18th July 1944, he was appointed comman-
der of Belgium-Northern France. On 15 September 1944 he was resto-
red to the leader Reserve. On 20 September 1944, he was then the
Commanding General and Commander of the Military Police Com-
mand III, also known as Military Police Corps III, appointed. In mid-
March 1945, he gave his command from on Air General Wilhelm
Speidel. For this he was then appointed general of Wehrmacht troops
order. For war ended in 1945 became Grase in captivity. From this he
was released on July 20, 1947.

Iron Cross (1914)
1st Class (6 December 1916)
Wound Badge (1914)
in Black
Cross of Honor in 1934
Iron Cross (1939)
1st Class (4 July 1940)
Eastern Front Medal

Knight's Cross on 18 October 1941 as Oberst and commander of In-
fanterie-Regiment 1
248th Oak Leaves on 23 May 1943 as Generalleutnant and comman-
der of 1. Infanterie Division
36/405
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk

Dates: 5 March 1898 – 16 March 1945
A German general who from 1943 commanded the 1. Infanterie Divi-
sion during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the
Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise
extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Ernst-
Anton von Krosigk was killed in an air-attack by Soviet forces on 16
March 1945 in the Courland Pocket.
Ernst-Anton von Krosigk occurred on 14 June 1915 as a cadet in the
Royal Prussian Army. He came here to the Garde-Jäger Battalion. In
the fall of 1915, he was then employed in this at the front of the first
world war. In this he was promoted to lieutenant on 15 June 1916.
During World War I he next two Iron Crosses additional awards were
presented. After a short time the Freikorps he was taken into the im-
perial army. He came in 200,000 man-transition army in the spring
of 1920 in the Reichswehr Infantry Regiment 5 used. In the forma-
tion of the 100,000 man army of the Reichswehr was relocated In-
fantry Regiment in the 9th (Preuss.). In this he was employed in va-
rious capacities in the coming years, especially in the companies from
II. Battalion. In the summer of 1925 he was promoted to first lieute-
nant. The rank seniority was thereby set on the 1 April 1925. On Octo-
ber 1, 1928 he was transferred to the Defense Ministry (RWM) to Ber-
lin. There he was employed in
the Army Statistical Division
(T 3). He now completed his
assistants leader training. On
1 October 1930 he was transfe-
rred to the staff of the 1st Divi-
sion of the Reichswehr to Ko-
nigsberg.
On 1 October 1931 he was
transferred to the 1st Com-
pany of the 6th (Preuss.)
News department to Hanover.
There he was appointed Cap-
tain of the 2nd Company of
the 6th (Preuss.) News depart-
ment with simultaneous pro-
motion to captain on October
1, 1932. The expansion of the
Reichswehr, he was transfe-
37/405
rred on 1 October 1934 Command of the Armed replacement inspec-

tion Münster. In the fall of 1935, he was then transferred to the Army
High Command in Berlin. There he was on 1 March 1936 he was pro-
moted to Major. On October 6, 1936, he was appointed the first Gene-
ral Staff Officer (Ia) of the 28th Infantry Division in Wroclaw. On Au-
gust 1, 1938, he came to teach at the military academy, where he was
promoted on April 1, 1939 Lieutenant Colonel. In the mobilization, he
was appointed as a Lieutenant Colonel to the Ia Deputy Commanding
General VIII. Corps in Breslau.
On 10 September 1939 he was transferred as Ia to the staff of the new
Army Division A of the West Wall. After its dissolution, he was appa-
rently used in the boundary portion Southern Command as Ia. In late
November 1939, he was then to XXII. Army Corps (mot.) Comman-
ded. On 1 December 1939, he was the successor of Lieutenant Colonel
Otto Schwarz Ia from the General Command XXII. Army Corps
(mot.) Appointed. This he then took part in the western campaign. In
this case, both clasps he was awarded his Iron Crosses. Still in 1940,
he was then placed in the leaders Reserve. On March 16, 1941, he was
promoted Chief of the General Staff of the army commander Back-
ward region 103 and on April 1, 1941 Colonel. He was appointed in
mid-July 1941 to Chief of Staff of the Army commander rear area
south through the renaming of the rod. On December 26, 1941, he
was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the First Army Corps. On
9 August 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. In mid-Ju-
ne 1943 he was transferred to the Reserve leaders. In February 1943,
he was briefly entrusted with the leadership of the 24th Infantry Divi-
sion. On 1 July 1943 he took over the leadership of the 1st Infantry Di-
vision. On September 1, 1943, he was promoted to Major General. He
was then appointed commander of the 1st Infantry Division. For his
lead performance in the third Ladoga battle him the Knight's Cross of
the Iron Cross was awarded on Feb. 12, 1944. On 31 March 1944 he
was appointed by name in the Wehrmacht report: "Southwest Pros-
kurov are still fierce offensive and defensive battles underway this ca-
se, the East Prussian 1st Infantry Division under the command of Ma-
jor General Krosigk v has proven particularly useful..."
On 1 May 1944 he was promoted to lieutenant general. He led the di-
vision then from the boiler of Kamenets Podolsk and from August
1944 in East Prussia. On October 1, 1944, he resigned his command
of the 1st Infantry Division and was transferred to the Reserve lea-
ders. On 17 December 1944 he was with the leadership of the XVI.
Army Corps commissioned. On 30 January 1945, the infantry was
promoted to General of Krosigk. As such, he was then XVI to Com-
38/405
manding General of the General Command. Army Corps appointed.

On March 10, 1945, he was appointed commander of the 16th Army.
A few days later he fell in a fire attack at Kanden in Kurland. Posthu-
mously, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 12
April 1945.

Iron Cross (1914)
1st Class (12 September 1918)
Wound Badge (1914) in Black
Eiserner Halbmond
Cross of Honor in 1934
Wehrmacht Long Service Award IV - I Class
Sudetenland Medal
Iron Cross (1939)
2nd Class (20 May 1940)
1st Class (19 June 1940)
German Cross in Gold (9 August 1942)
Knight's Cross on 12 February 1944 as Generalmajor and comman-
der of 1. Infanterie Division
827th Oak Leaves on 12 April 1945 (Posthumously) as General der
Infanterie and commander of XVI.Armeekorps
Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (21 March 1944)
Personnel
A total of 31 personnel of the division were awarded the Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross.
Service Record
Polish Campaign as part of Army Group North:
Sept, 1939: Fought in Poland under 3.Armee of German Army Group
North
French Campaign as part of Army Group B:

May, 1940: Reserve division of 6.Armee of German Army Group B in
Belgium
Jun, 1940: Fought in France under I.Armeekorps of 4.Armee
Jul-Aug, 1940: Part of I.Armeekorps of 7.Armee along the Atlantic
coast
Sept, 1940: Transferred to East Prussia under 18.Armee with Army
39/405
Group B
Russian Campaign as part of Army Group North:

Jun, 1941: Invaded Russia with 18. Armee under Army Group North
Jul, 1941: Transferred to XXVI. Armeekorps under 18.Armee
Aug, 1941: Transferred to XXXXI. Armeekorps of 4.Panzergruppe
Sept, 1941: Transferred to XXXVIII. Armeekorps of 18.Armee near
Peterhof
Nov, 1941: Reserve division of 18. Armee near Leningrad
Dec, 1941: Joined XXVI. Armeekorps near Leningrad
May, 1942: Rejoined XXVI. Armeekorps near Volkhov
Jun, 1942: Rejoined I. Armeekorps near Volkhov
Jan, 1943: Rejoined XXVI. Armeekorps near Ladoga
Feb, 1943: Joined LIV Armeekorps near Ladoga
Apr, 1943: Rejoined XXVI. Armeekorps near Ladoga
Sept, 1943: Rejoined XXVIII. Armeekorps near Tigoda
Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group South:

Jan, 1944: Transferred to reserves of 1.Panzer-Armee under Army
Group South at Winnizia
Feb, 1944: Joined XXXXVI.Armeekorps in the Hube pocket
Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group North Ukraine:

Apr, 1944: Joined III.Armeekorps under Army Group North Ukraine
May, 1944: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps under 1.Panzer-Armee at
Stanislau
Jul, 1944: Joined LIX. Armeekorps at Brody
Defense of the Reich:

Aug, 1944: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps under 3.Panzer-Armee of
Army Group Centre at Schlossberg
Feb, 1945: Rejoined XXXXI.Armeekorps under 4.Armee at Königs-
berg
Mar, 1945: Reserve division of Armee Samland at Samland
Apr, 1945: Rejoined XXVI.Armeekorps under Armee Ostpreussen at
Pillau
2nd Infantry Division
40/405

Wehrmacht Infantry Divisions 1 To5 1935-1945: ST TH

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Wehrmacht Infantry Divisions 1 To5 1935-1945: ST TH

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Wehrmacht Infantry Divisions 1st to 5th 1935-1945

Last Proclamation: Soldiers Of The German Eastern Front! ........ 10

German strategy........................................................................... 170

Fall Rot ......................................................................................... 212

Directive No 13 ................................................................................. 272

Directive 34a..................................................................................... 322

Hauptmann .................................................................................. 374

15th April 1945

Last Proclamation: Soldiers Of The German Eastern Front!

degree and type of training afforded to modern Infantry regiments.

German Infantry Divisions

1st Infantry Division

1A Leutnant platoon leader (Zugfuhrer) armed with an MP40 machine pis-

Playing a minor role in the invasion of France, the division returned

1 st Divisional Support Units

1 Bicycle Squadron (9 LMGs, 2 HMGs and 3 50mm mortars)

1st Veterinary Troop

2 These listings were prepared using a series of charts employing a special-

sance Battalion. In November 1944 the division's regiments were

Apr, 1944: Joined III.Armeekorps under Army Group North Ukraine

General der Infanterie Joachim Otto August Achatius

of the 3rd Army.

Awards and decorations

Awards and decorations

Georg Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Küchler

and childhood. After attending cadet school, he entered the Imperial

The First World War and interwar years

The Second World War: in Poland and on the Western

him the rank of colonel-general.

The Second World War: on the Eastern Front

Generalleutnant Philipp Kleffel

rred to the Defense Ministry in Berlin. He was then in the coming

Awards and decorations

Generalleutnant Martin Grase

ber 22, 1919 he was appointed Adjutant of Infantry Leader I. When

16, 1942 appointed commander of the 1st Infantry Division. On Ja-

Awards and decorations

Eastern Front Medal

General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk

rred on 1 October 1934 Command of the Armed replacement inspec-

manding General of the General Command. Army Corps appointed.

Awards and decorations

French Campaign as part of Army Group B:

Russian Campaign as part of Army Group North:

Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group South:

Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group North Ukraine:

Defense of the Reich:

2nd Infantry Division

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